Nassella crassiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 60–110 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–50 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 25–32 cm long. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 26–32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3.2–5 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 26–32 mm long; 1.05 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25–30 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 14–16.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 0.8–1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 102–157 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 75–110 mm long; pubescent. Palea 0.5–2 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1.7–2 mm long. Anthers 3; 5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 7–8.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Rosengurtt 1995.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.